Side impact inflatable restraint with vent openings

Abstract

An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a first fabric panel (60), a second fabric panel (62), and a seam (64) at which the fabric panels (60,62) are fastened to each other. The restraint (12) further includes a vent opening (128) which interrupts the seam (64) to direct inflation fluid to exit the restraint (12) between the fabric panels (60,62). The restraint (12) is inflated between a vehicle seat (16) and an adjacent vehicle door (18) upon the occurrence of a side impact collision, and protects an occupant of the seat (16) from being forcefully struck by the door (18). The vent opening (128) directs the inflation fluid to exit the restraint (12) in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the door (18) is moved toward the seat (16) by the side impact collision. As a result, the flow of inflation fluid which is directed from the restraint (12) through the vent opening (128 ) is directed away from the occupant and is not blocked or impeded substantially by the seat (16) or the door (18).

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
       1. Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel, and means for defining a seam at which said fabric panels are fastened to each other;   said restraint further comprising vent means for interrupting said seam to define a vent opening through which inflation fluid can exit said restraint between said fabric panels;   said vent opening being circular, said vent means comprising a semicircular edge portion of said first fabric panel which defines a first half of said vent opening and a semicircular edge portion of said second fabric panel which defines a second half of said vent opening.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second fabric panels comprise first and second pieces of fabric material, respectively, said semicircular edge portion of said first fabric panel comprising adjoining semicircular edge portions of overlapping plies of said first piece of fabric material, said semicircular edge portion of said second fabric panel comprising adjoining semicircular edge portions of overlapping plies of said second piece of fabric material. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said restraint further comprises means for defining an inflation fluid inlet opening, said first and second fabric panels having major portions with generally circular shapes, said seam extending circumferentially around said major portions of said panels, said vent means being one of a pair of vent means which are alike and which interrupt said seam at a corresponding pair of diametrically opposed locations which are substantially equidistant from said inlet opening, said vent opening being one of a pair of vent openings which are alike and which direct said inflation fluid to exit said restraint at said diametrically opposed locations. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel, and means for defining a seam at which said fabric panels are fastened to each other;   a source of inflation fluid;   directing means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint; and   supporting means for supporting said restraint in a vehicle in a position from which said restraint moves into a space between a vehicle seat and a side portion of the vehicle when said restraint is inflating, said supporting means thus directing said restraint to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant relative to the side portion of the vehicle in a direction extending from the vehicle seat toward the side portion of the vehicle;   said restraint further comprising vent means for interrupting said seam to define a vent opening through which said inflation fluid can exit said restraint between said panels;   said vent opening being circular, said vent means comprising a semicircular edge portion of said first fabric panel which defines a first half of said vent opening and a semicircular edge portion of said second fabric panel which defines a second half of said vent opening.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second fabric panels comprise first and second pieces of fabric material, respectively, said semicircular edge portion of said first fabric panel comprising adjoining semicircular edge portions of overlapping plies of said first piece of fabric material, said semicircular edge portion of said second fabric panel comprising adjoining semicircular edge portions of overlapping plies of said second piece of fabric material. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said restraint further comprises means for defining an inflation fluid inlet opening, said first and second fabric panels having major portions with generally circular shapes, said seam extending circumferentially around said major portions of said panels, said vent means being one of a pair of vent means which are alike and which interrupt said seam at a corresponding pair of diametrically opposed locations which are substantially equidistant from said inlet opening, said vent opening being one of a pair of vent openings which are alike and which direct said inflation fluid to exit said restraint at said diametrically opposed locations. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel, and means for defining a seam between said fabric panels, said means for defining a seam comprising stitch means for attaching said fabric panels to each other along said seam;   said restraint further comprising vent means for defining a vent opening through which inflation fluid can exit said restraint between said fabric panels continuously throughout inflation of said restraint from a folded, uninflated condition to an unfolded, inflated condition;   said vent means interrupting said seam such that said stitch means is discontinuous across said vent opening and said fabric panels are detached from each other at said vent opening prior to inflation of said restraint.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel, and means for defining a seam between said fabric panels, said means for defining a seam comprising stitch means for attaching said fabric panels to each other along said seam;   said restraint further comprising vent means for defining a vent opening through which inflation fluid can exit said restraint between said fabric panels continuously throughout inflation of said restraint from a folded, uninflated condition to an unfolded, inflated condition;   said vent means interrupting said seam such that said stitch means is discontinuous across said vent opening and said fabric panels are detached from each other at said vent opening prior to inflation of said restraint;   said restraint further comprising means for defining an inflation fluid inlet opening, said first and second fabric panels having major portions with generally circular shapes, said seam extending circumferentially around said major portions of said panels, said vent means being one of a pair of vent means which are alike and which interrupt said seam at a corresponding pair of diametrically opposed locations which are substantially equidistant from said inlet opening, said vent opening being one of a pair of vent openings which are alike and which direct said inflation fluid to exit said restraint at said diametrically opposed locations.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel, and means for defining a seam between said fabric panels, said means for defining a seam comprising stitch means for attaching said fabric panels to each other along said seam;   said restraint further comprising vent means for defining a vent opening through which inflation fluid can exit said restraint between said fabric panels continuously throughout inflation of said restraint from a folded, uninflated condition to an unfolded, inflated condition;   said vent means interrupting said seam such that said stitch means is discontinuous across said vent opening and said fabric panels are detached from each other at said vent opening prior to inflation of said restraint;   said vent opening being circular, said vent means comprising a semicircular edge portion of said first fabric panel which defines a first half of said vent opening and a semicircular edge portion of said second fabric panel which defines a second half of said vent opening.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second fabric panels comprise first and second pieces of fabric material, respectively, said semicircular edge portion of said first fabric panel comprising adjoining semicircular edge portions of overlapping plies of said first piece of fabric material, said semicircular edge portion of said second fabric panel comprising adjoining semicircular edge portions of overlapping plies of said second piece of fabric material.